Page 61 of Between the Lines

“What did you order? Maybe I have it,” I ask, dipping my head down to meet her gaze.

Fia bites the corner of her bottom lip. “Uhm, children’s acetaminophen. I had enough to get through the night, but I accidentally knocked it off the counter, and now I’m out, and Daisy has an ear infection.”

Her voice is shaking, and her chest is rising and falling faster and faster.

She’s blinking, not looking at me.

Screw boundaries, Fia needs me. And for once she came to me, walls down, asking. So on instinct, I reach out, placing a steady hand on her arm.

“Just breathe. It’s going to be okay.”

She inhales, eyes snapping up to mine.

Daisy whimpers, pulling on a reddened ear.

“Text me exactly what you need,” I instruct, grabbing my keys. “I’ll be back as quickly as I can.”

“Caden.” Her voice is thick with tears, and for the first time since she walked in here, she’s really looking at me. “Thank you.” Fia sways, soothing Daisy, who is beginning to cry, nuzzling into her mom’s shoulder.

“Don’t mention it.” I flash a small smile. “I’ll be right back.”

Three weeks ago, if I had been bothered like that just as I’m sitting down after an exhausting day in the sun, I would’ve been annoyed.

But as I walk briskly through the aisles of the convenience store, children’s medication in hand, all I can think about is getting home and making sure Fia and Daisy are okay. Both of them.

As I’m waiting in line, I notice a cooler full of ice cream nearby. Before I can overthink it, I reach in and grab three pints in different flavors.

Fia swings open the guesthouse front door as I’m walking up to it, and when I hold out the plastic bag, she grabs it and then flings her arms around me. I freeze, my heart stuttering as her arms hang heavily on my shoulders.

“You’ve saved the freaking day,” Fia mumbles, face smooshed into my chest. Quickly I wrap my arms around her too, and once I do, I don’t want to let her go. Her ribs fit perfectly against mine, the top of her head sits right under my chin, like she was made to be there.

This embrace crosses a deep line in the sand, but if I’m being honest with myself, every day I’m having more trouble seeing those lines.

Fia’s hug lasts for nearly a minute before she pulls back, though no part of me wants to release her.

“Please come in. I have cash for you.” Fia waves me in, and I bite my tongue.

I’ll let her pay me back for the six-dollar medication tonight. But I’ll stick it into the tip jar at Good Grinds when no one is looking later.

“Let me grab Daisy,” Fia murmurs hoarsely, but she still manages a small grin. “Just hold tight.”

I stand, waiting in the kitchen. The guesthouse is messy with baby toys and blankets, an overflowing laundry hamper in the little nook by the bedrooms. To my left, the cat’s perched on the back of the sofa, staring at me like he’s the king of the castle and I’m a mere peasant.

Naively, I’d hoped he’d forgotten about the whole throwing-a-towel-over-him incident, but judging by the smug look on his tiny brown face, he remembers vividly.

“I think your cat hates me,” I remark, trying to ease the tension as Fia walks back into the kitchen with Daisy. The toddler’s face is splotchy and red, but there are no more tears.

Fia’s eyes snap to mine as she sets Daisy on the counter in front of her, resting her bent legs over the side and leaning forward to lock her there, to keep her from falling. “Oh, he for sure hates you. Hamburger hates all men.”

Noted.

Should’ve got cat treats while I was out too.

“I’m really sorry about the mess in here . . .” Fia starts, drawing purple syrup into a syringe.

“I don’t care,” I reply softly.

Finally she gets her daughter to take the medication. The clock behind her reads 8:45 PM, but it feels like the middle of the night.